New owners, new ships for Hurtigruten

 
A group of British investors is poised to take ownership of the historic Norwegian cruise and ferry service, according to a report in Barents Oberserver.

The paper goes on to  report that Hurtigruten announced on Wednesday it recommends a takeover bid from the London-based investment group, Silk Bidco AS.

With headquarters in Tromsø, Hurtigruten operates daily voyages along Norway’s scenic coast from Kirkenes in the northeast to Bergen in the southwest.

After the announcement of the takeover bid, Hurtigruten officials are reported to have said the company would get a better financial stand to consider construction of new vessels, including ships for expedition cruising.

The Holy lake behind the walls of the monastery is a popular recreation area for the locals on Solovki. Photo: Thomas Nilsen / BarentsObserver

A new destination for expedition cruising in Russia’s White Sea region with the Solovetsky archipelago, often entitled the secret pearl of the Barents Region.

“We have agreed on starting developing the cruise itinerary from Tromsø via Kirkenes, Murmansk, Solovetsky Archipelago to Arkhangelsk,” says Olga Gorelova to BarentsObserver.

Gorelova is Deputy Head of the Agency for Tourism and International Cooperation of the Arkhangelsk Region.

The itinerary was discussed at a meeting between Russian and Norwegian tourism representatives in Arkhangelsk in October.

If successful, it is proposed that the the expedition vessel, Fram, begin cruises in 2017.